Gods of the greek and roman mythology had a lot of love stories and affairs that have inspired poets and painters.
Jupiter and Antiope, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1659, From the collection of: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Antiope was the daughter of the river god Asopus. Her beauty attracted Zeus, who, assuming the form of a satyr, took her by force. Antiope gave birth to Amphion and Zethus.
Jupiter and Antiope, Verwilt, François, Before 1691, From the collection of: Dulwich Picture Gallery
Antiope was the daughter of the river god Asopus. Her beauty attracted Zeus, who, assuming the form of a satyr, took her by force. Antiope gave birth to Amphion and Zethus.
Danaë and the Shower of Gold, Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller, 1787, From the collection of: Nationalmuseum Sweden
Danaë was a daughter of King Acrisius of Argos. Zeus came to her in the form of golden rain, and impregnated her. Soon after, their child Perseus was born.
The Rape of Europa, Paolo Veronese, about 1570, From the collection of: The National Gallery, London
Europa, daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor, was seduced by Zeus in the form of a bull. He carried her away to Crete on his back, where she bare three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
Rape of Europa, Veronese, 1581/1584, From the collection of: Musei Capitolini
Europa, daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor, was seduced by Zeus in the form of a bull. He carried her away to Crete on his back, where she bare three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
The Rape of Europa, Martin de Vos, c.1570-1575, From the collection of: Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao
Europa, daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor, was seduced by Zeus in the form of a bull. He carried her away to Crete on his back, where she bare three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
The Abduction of Europa, Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, 1632, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Europa, daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor, was seduced by Zeus in the form of a bull. He carried her away to Crete on his back, where she bare three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
The Rape of Europa, Laurent de La Hyre, 1644, From the collection of: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Europa, daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor, was seduced by Zeus in the form of a bull. He carried her away to Crete on his back, where she bare three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
Rape of Europa, Claude Gellée, called "Le Lorrain", 1667, From the collection of: Royal Collection Trust, UK
Europa, daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor, was seduced by Zeus in the form of a bull. He carried her away to Crete on his back, where she bare three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
Coast View with the Abduction of Europa, Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée), 1645 ?, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Europa, daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor, was seduced by Zeus in the form of a bull. He carried her away to Crete on his back, where she bare three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
Rape of Europa, Titian, 17th century, From the collection of: Dulwich Picture Gallery
Europa, daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor, was seduced by Zeus in the form of a bull. He carried her away to Crete on his back, where she bare three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
The rape of Europa, Valentin Serov, 1910, From the collection of: The State Tretyakov Gallery
Europa, daughter of the Phoenician King Agenor, was seduced by Zeus in the form of a bull. He carried her away to Crete on his back, where she bare three sons: Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon.
The Abduction of Ganymede, Antonio Allegri, called Correggio, 1520/1540, From the collection of: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
Ganymede was the son of Tros of Dardania. He was considered as the most beautiful of mortals. He was abducted by Zeus, in the form of an eagle.
The Rape of Ganymede, Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, about 1635, From the collection of: Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs, Dresden State Art Collections
Ganymede was the son of Tros of Dardania. He was considered as the most beautiful of mortals. He was abducted by Zeus, in the form of an eagle.
The Abduction of Ganymede, Rembrandt, 1635, From the collection of: Old Masters Picture Gallery, Dresden State Art Museums
Ganymede was the son of Tros of Dardania. He was considered as the most beautiful of mortals. He was abducted by Zeus, in the form of an eagle.
Jupiter and Io, Antonio Allegri, called Correggio, 1520/1540, From the collection of: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
Io, a priestess of Hera in Argos, was seduced by Zeus, in a from of a cloud. She was changed by him into a heifer and went to Egypt, where she was restored to human form and bare his son Epaphus.
Léda in Nouveaux Morceaux pour des paravents [New Concepts for Screens], François Boucher, 1740, From the collection of: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Leda was the daughter of the Aetolian king Thestius. She was seduced by Zeus in the guise of a swan. Their consummation, on the same night as Leda lay with her husband Tyndareus, resulted in two eggs from which hatched Helen, Clytemnestra, and the Dioscuri.
Project for a Ceiling Fresco: Leda and the Swan, Francesco Saverio Mergolo, c. 1775, From the collection of: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Leda was the daughter of the Aetolian king Thestius. She was seduced by Zeus in the guise of a swan. Their consummation, on the same night as Leda lay with her husband Tyndareus, resulted in two eggs from which hatched Helen, Clytemnestra, and the Dioscuri.
Leda and the Swan, Antonio Allegri da Correggio, around 1532, From the collection of: Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Leda was the daughter of the Aetolian king Thestius. She was seduced by Zeus in the guise of a swan. Their consummation, on the same night as Leda lay with her husband Tyndareus, resulted in two eggs from which hatched Helen, Clytemnestra, and the Dioscuri.
Neptune and Amphitrite, Jan Gossaert, 1516, From the collection of: Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Neptune was the Roman god of water and the sea, brother of Jupiter and Pluto. Amphitrite was a daughter of Nereus and Doris (and thus a Nereid). She was a sea-goddess and wife of Neptune (or Poseidon).
Poseidon and Amphitrite, Rupert BUNNY, c.1913, From the collection of: National Gallery of Australia
Poseidon was the Greek god of water and the sea, brother of Zeus and Hades. Amphitrite was a daughter of Nereus and Doris (and thus a Nereid). She was a sea-goddess and wife of Poseidon.
The Rape of Proserpine, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1631, From the collection of: Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Proserpine is the daughter of Ceres and Jupiter. Pluto, the Lord of the Underworld, abducted her, bursting through a cleft in the earth. Helios told Ceres what had happened. The goddess decided to stop cereals growing.
Finally, Zeus, pressed by hungry people, forced Pluto to return Proserpine. As Proserpine did eat pomegranate in the Underworld, she was forced to return to the underworld for a period each year. This is an origin story to explain the seasons.
Abduction of Proserpine on a Unicorn, Albrecht Dürer, 1516, From the collection of: SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst
Proserpine is the daughter of Ceres and Jupiter. Pluto, the Lord of the Underworld, abducted her, bursting through a cleft in the earth. Helios told Ceres what had happened. The goddess decided to stop cereals growing.
Finally, Zeus, pressed by hungry people, forced Pluto to return Proserpine. As Proserpine did eat pomegranate in the Underworld, she was forced to return to the underworld for a period each year. This is an origin story to explain the seasons.
The Rape of Proserpine, design for the staircase of Devonshire House, London, Louis Laguerre, 1663–1721, French, active in Britain (from ca. 1684), ca. 1704, From the collection of: Yale Center for British Art
Proserpine is the daughter of Ceres and Jupiter. Pluto, the Lord of the Underworld, abducted her, bursting through a cleft in the earth. Helios told Ceres what had happened. The goddess decided to stop cereals growing.
Finally, Zeus, pressed by hungry people, forced Pluto to return Proserpine. As Proserpine did eat pomegranate in the Underworld, she was forced to return to the underworld for a period each year. This is an origin story to explain the seasons.
Pluto and Proserpine, Mola, Pietro Francesco, Late 17th century, From the collection of: Dulwich Picture Gallery
Proserpine is the daughter of Ceres and Jupiter. Pluto, the Lord of the Underworld, abducted her, bursting through a cleft in the earth. Helios told Ceres what had happened. The goddess decided to stop cereals growing.
Finally, Zeus, pressed by hungry people, forced Pluto to return Proserpine. As Proserpine did eat pomegranate in the Underworld, she was forced to return to the underworld for a period each year. This is an origin story to explain the seasons.
Venus and Vulcan, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Italian (active Venice, Udine, Würzburg, and Madrid) 1696 - 1770, c. 1765, From the collection of: Philadelphia Museum of Art
Mars and Venus Surprised by the Gods, about 1606 - 1610, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Venus and Mars, Pieter Paul Rubens, 1632/1635, From the collection of: Musei di Strada Nuova
Mars and Venus, Nicolas Poussin, about 1630, From the collection of: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Mars and Venus, Nicolas Poussin, 1633 - 1634, From the collection of: The Toledo Museum of Art
Venus, Mars and Cupid, Rubens, Sir Peter Paul, Early to mid-1630s, From the collection of: Dulwich Picture Gallery
Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan, Guillemot, Alexandre Charles, 1827, From the collection of: Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Venus and Mercury, Poussin, Nicolas, c.1627-29, From the collection of: Dulwich Picture Gallery
Bacchus and Ariadne, Titian, 1520-3, From the collection of: The National Gallery, London
Bacchus and Ariadne, Sebastiano Ricci, probably 1700-10, From the collection of: The National Gallery, London
The Death of Adonis (with Venus, Cupid, and the Three Graces), Peter Paul Rubens, ca. 1614, From the collection of: The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Venus and Adonis, Peter Paul Rubens, circa 1610, From the collection of: Kunstpalast
(Main View), From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Venus mourning Adonis, Rubens, Sir Peter Paul, c.1614, From the collection of: Dulwich Picture Gallery
Venus and Adonis, Nicolas Poussin, c. 1628–29, From the collection of: Kimbell Art Museum
Venus and Adonis, Titian, Second half of the 16th century, From the collection of: Dulwich Picture Gallery
Aurora abducting Cephalus, Peter Paul Rubens, about 1636-7, From the collection of: The National Gallery, London
The goddess of dawn, Eos kidnapped Cephalus. They became lovers. But Cephalus returned to Procris. Eos disparaged remarks about his wife's fidelity. Once reunited with Procris, Cephalus tested her by returning from the hunt in disguise, and managing to seduce her. In shame Procris fled to the forest, to hunt with Artemis. In returning and reconciling, Procris brought an inerrant javelin that never missed its mark as gift.
Procris then conceived doubts about her husband, who left his house and climbed to a mountaintop. She climbed to where he was to spy on him. Cephalus, hearing a stirring in the brush, threw the never-erring javelin in the direction of the sound – and Procris was impaled. After the death of Procris, Cephalus went into exile.
Cephalus and Aurora, Nicolas Poussin, about 1630, From the collection of: The National Gallery, London
The goddess of dawn, Eos kidnapped Cephalus. They became lovers. But Cephalus returned to Procris. Eos disparaged remarks about his wife's fidelity. Once reunited with Procris, Cephalus tested her by returning from the hunt in disguise, and managing to seduce her. In shame Procris fled to the forest, to hunt with Artemis. In returning and reconciling, Procris brought an inerrant javelin that never missed its mark as gift.
Procris then conceived doubts about her husband, who left his house and climbed to a mountaintop. She climbed to where he was to spy on him. Cephalus, hearing a stirring in the brush, threw the never-erring javelin in the direction of the sound – and Procris was impaled. After the death of Procris, Cephalus went into exile.
Mars and the vestal virgin, Jacques Blanchard, 1638, From the collection of: Art Gallery of New South Wales
Pan and Syrinx, Nicolas Poussin, 1637, From the collection of: Old Masters Picture Gallery, Dresden State Art Museums
Circe Invidiosa, J. W. WATERHOUSE, 1892, From the collection of: Art Gallery of South Australia
Psyche, Sir Peter Paul Rubens, c.1612 - c.1615, From the collection of: Royal Collection Trust, UK
Psyche in the Temple of Love, Edward John Poynter, 1882, From the collection of: Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
The Death of Hyacinthus, Giambattista Tiepolo, Around 1752 - 1753, From the collection of: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
Apollo and Daphne, Stefano Pozzi, 1730, From the collection of: Kunstpalast
Bacchus and Ariadne, Sebastiano Ricci, probably 1700-10, From the collection of: The National Gallery, London
Apollo and Daphne, attributed to James Jefferys, 1751–1784, British, formerly attributed to Prince Hoare, 1755–1834, British, Master of the Giants, active 1779, British, between 1770 and 1799, From the collection of: Yale Center for British Art
Apollo pursuing Daphne, Domenichino and assistants, 1616-18, From the collection of: The National Gallery, London
Apollo and Daphne, design by Charles de La Fosse; cartoon by Zeger Jacob van Helmont (figures) and Augustin Coppens (landscape); woven in Brussels in the workshop of Urbanus Leyniers, Daniël Leyniers II, and Hendrik Reydams II, 1713/1721, From the collection of: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
Venus and Anchises, Benjamin Robert Haydon, 1786–1846, British, 1826, From the collection of: Yale Center for British Art
Venus and Anchises, William Blake Richmond, 1889/1890, From the collection of: Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Apollo and Daphne, Hoet, Gerard, c.1700, From the collection of: Dulwich Picture Gallery
Mars, Venus and Cupid, Paolo Veronese, About 1580, From the collection of: National Galleries Scotland: National
Mars and Venus United by Love, Paolo Veronese (Paolo Caliari), 1570s, From the collection of: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Mars & Venus, Allegory of Peace, 1770, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Medusa, Caravaggio Merisi, 1595 - 1598, From the collection of: Uffizi Gallery
Nymph and Shepherd, Tiziano Vecellio, called Titian, 1570/1575, From the collection of: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
Venus and Mars, Richard Cosway, 1742–1821, British, ca. 1790, From the collection of: Yale Center for British Art
The Minotaur, George Frederic Watts, 1885, From the collection of: Tate Britain
Mars and Venus, Nicolas Poussin, 1633 - 1634, From the collection of: The Toledo Museum of Art
Bacchanalia, Peter Paul Rubens, Circa 1615, From the collection of: The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts
The Return from War: Mars Disarmed by Venus, Peter Paul Rubens, Jan Brueghel the Elder, about 1610–1612, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Nymph and Satyr, Poussin, Nicolas, 17th century?, From the collection of: Dulwich Picture Gallery
Cupid as Victor, Caravaggio, around 1601, From the collection of: Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
The Death of Hyacinthus, Giambattista Tiepolo, Around 1752 - 1753, From the collection of: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
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Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Old Masters Picture Gallery, Dresden State Art Museums
Dulwich Picture Gallery
SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Royal Collection Trust, UK
National Gallery of Australia
Uffizi Gallery
Art Gallery of South Australia
The State Tretyakov Gallery
Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Kimbell Art Museum
Yale Center for British Art
The J. Paul Getty Museum
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
National Galleries Scotland: National
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Kunstpalast
The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts
Tate Britain
The Toledo Museum of Art
Musei Capitolini
Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
The National Gallery, London
Collection of Prints, Drawings and Photographs, Dresden State Art Collections
Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
Nationalmuseum Sweden
Musei di Strada Nuova